CW orders 'Vampire Diaries' spinoff series, renews two dramas

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Yvonne VillarrealThis post has been corrected, as indicated below.

It's starting! Networks are beginning to show their cards for next season. And, for the CW, that means delving further into the supernatural world.

The network has given its first new series order of the season with "The Originals," the much talked about spinoff of "The Vampire Diaires." The news comes just a day after the backdoor pilot aired, drawing a solid-for-the-network 2.2 million viewers and a 0.9 rating in adults 18-49 -- though it took a double-digit drop from the vampire drama's season average.

The offshoot, from "Vampire Diaries" co-creator and showrunner Julie Plec, centers around the Original family that lives in the supernatural hotbed of New Orleans.

“As soon as we saw last night’s episode of ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ we knew we wanted more of ‘The Originals,' " CW President Mark Pedowitz said. "Julie Plec and [co-creator] Kevin Williamson have done a fantastic job with ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ which is as fast-paced and well-written as ever, and Julie has created an equally compelling world for ‘The Originals.’ ”

"The Originals" is one of two pilots Plec has in the running with the network. The other is an adaptation of '70's British series "The Tomorrow People." A decision on that series, which has Plec teaming with "Arrow" executive producer Greg Berlanti, is expected in the coming weeks.

The network also announced it would bring back "Beauty and the Beast" and "Hart of Dixie," for a second and third season, repesctively. Both dramas are modest performers in the traditional Nielsen sense. But they see a bump, however slight, when online and DVR-viewing is tallied in. Pedowitz said of the pair: "Both series continue to be creatively strong and compelling, and their fans are incredibly passionate. I’m very happy to have all three series on the schedule for next season.”

The three pickups join previously-announced orders for "Arrow," "The Vampire Diaries," and "Supernatural."

[For the record, 4:10 p.m. July 29: A previous version of this post said the backdoor pilot for "The Originals" had a .09 rating among adults ages 18-49. In fact, it had a 0.9 rating.]